Nepal's Par committee rejects Joshee's name for Chief Justice

Nepal's acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee's nomination for the post of Chief Justice (CJ) was today rejected by a parliamentary committee through a voting process.

Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) decided to put Joshee's appointment as CJ to vote after its meeting summoned this morning failed to reach consensus.

Lawmakers belonging to ruling Nepal Communist Party and main opposition Nepali Congress were divided over his appointment.

Nepali Congress boycotted the PHC meeting following which out of 15 members of the PHC, nine members of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and one member of the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) voted against the proposal to appoint Joshee as the head of judiciary.

The ruling NCP was against endorsing acting CJ Joshee as the Chief Justice while NC was in favour of the CJ nominee. Joshi's name was recommended on seniority by Constitutional Council headed by the Prime Minister following the retirement of chief justice Gopal Parajuli recently.

Joshee, however, will remain as Acting Chief Justice for some weeks. Joshee will continue to remain in the post until a new Chief Justice is appointed.

Nepal Bar Association has raised serious objection to the rejection of Joshee's name by the Parliamentary Committee, in which ruling NCP lawmakers command majority, saying it was a direct interference in the affairs of the judiciary.

In a statement, general secretary of the Bar condemned the move, saying it was guided by "political ideology and party politics."